Improvement in furnaces for the manufacture of iron and steel



2 Sheets--Sheet1. E. PECKHAM.

- Furnaces for the Manufacture of vIron and Steel.

No.l49,l5l. Patented March 31,1874.

Wimasses: inv tor: A

amen STATES- PATENT Orrron.

EDGAR PEOKHAM, or ANTWERP, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN FURNACES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF IRON AND STEEL.

S ecification forming part of Letters Patent No. 14!),l5l, dated March 31, 1874; application filed October 11, 1873.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that 1, EDGAR PECKHAM, of

Antwerp, in the county of Jefferson and State ore-chambers instead of one, so as to treat the ore at different degrees of temperature to remove sulphur and phosphorus, and so that one series may serve for a flue to heat the ore in the other series when the coal is impure.

Figure 1 is a transverse section of my improved furnace, taken on the line 00 as of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is partly a side elevation and partly a section. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional elevation taken on line 3 y of Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A A are the walls of the furnace; B, the fireplace; (3, G, and 0, lines leading from the fire B to the ore-chambers D, D D and D and from thence to stack E. F and F are retorts underneath the ore-chamber D and D. G, G G and G are dampers for regulating the heat in the ore-chambers D, D, D and D. H and H are hoppers through which the ore is charged into ore chambers D and D I and I are openings (with covers) through which the ore is transferred from ore-chamber D and I) to orechambers D and D Band .1 are openings throughwhich the oreis transferred from cham bers D and D to retorts F and F. J J are passages leading from presses L L to coolingchambers J J, into which the hot blooms may be transferred and allowed to cool. K and K are chambers, into which the prepared sponge is transferred from the retorts F F preparatory to its being introduced into the pressesL and L. L and L are presses or press-chambers,

- Where the hot sponge is pressed into blooms. 0,0 and O are doors through which the op eration of removing the sponge from the retorts F and F to chambers K and K is conducted, or it may be conducted through doors 0 O O are doors to cooling-chambers J J. O 0 are doors or openings through which the blooms may be taken from the presses direct to the hammer or furnace. Q is a door opening into flue O 0 for removing ashes, &c. R and R are doors opening into ore-chambers 1), D D and D through which cold air may be admitted when treating sulphur ores. S is a blast-pipe for conveying wind to fire-place B. V is the follower of the press, which comes in contact with the sponge. It may be constructed same as V, so as to produce two blooms at once. Z is an opening through which the sponge is transferred from retort F to chamber K. Z is a descending opening tlirough which the spongeis transferred to press L.

The operation of reducing the ore-to sponge is conducted as follows, and is substantially the same as described in my patent of June 24: Fire is made in the fire-place B, and the dampers G G G G opened. When the orechambers D and D are heated to a cherry red they are charged with ore to the depth of from four to six inches, (the ore having been previously reduced to about the size of walnuts and mixed with the proper fluxes, and about an equal quantity in bulk of fine charcoal.) After the ore has been in chambers D and 1) about twelve hours it is transferred through openings I and 1 to ore-chambers D and D directly underneath, where it is treated at a more intense heat for about twelve hours more, after which it is transferred, through openings I and 1 to retorts F and F, where it is treated from one to four days, or longer, according to the quality of the ore. The retorts may each contain twoor three charges.

The operation ofreducing the prepared sponge to blooms is conducted as follows: A small fire should be first made in the press-chamber L, sufficient to remove all dampness and to heat the chambers L and K throughout, after which the fire should be removed and all the openings leading into the chambers L and K closed and made air-tight by plastering the edges. The damper 2 should then be raisedand enough of the prepared sponge transferred from retort F, through opening Z, to chamber K to fill it. (The chamber K should be of the samecapacity as'the press-chamber L.) After the chamber K is full the damper 2 should be closed and the dam-pew]: raised, and thesponge allowed to pass through the descending opening Z to the presschamber L. When it is all transferred, and the press-chamber full, the damper 4 should be closed and the press-follower B set in motion, (by hand or machinery,) and the sponge pressed into a bloom. WVhile this is being done the chamber K may again be filled with sponge, ready for the next bloom. When the bloom is made the side of the press-chamber 5 may be raised and the bloom transferred through the passage J" to cooling-chamber J, and there allowed to cool before being removed; or it may be removed through the door or opening 0 direct to the hammer or furnace.

The'chamber K may be dispensed with, and the sponge transferred directly from the retorts t0 the press. I think it preferable, however, to use it, for by its use a charge of sponge may be transferred from the retort to the chamber while the previous charge is being pressed into a bloom. The operation is thereby facilitated and the cold air more perfectly prevented from entering into the retorts during the operation.

When using coal containing too much sulphur for applying the heat directly to the ore,

the latter may be charged into chambers D D and the draft passed directly through chamber 1) and D into the stack E, and this ore may be transferred to retorts F F through special passages that may be provided for the purpose, or it may be transferred directly through the chambers D 1) without much injury.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent-- 1. The furnace A A, having two series of orechambers, in combination with retorts F F, all constructed and arranged substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the furnace A A, or with any converting or sponging furnace, of a press or a series of presses, for compressing the reduced ore or sponge, while hot, into blooms.

EDGAR P'ECKHAM. \Vitnesses A. P. THAYER, T. 13. MosHER. 

